1 Because of changes in the classification of establishments between SIC and NAICS, establishments classified in the following industries were covered in the 1993 and 1997 surveys, but not in the 2002 survey: NAICS 11331, Logging; NAICS 5111, Newspaper, Periodical, Book, and Database Publishers; and NAICS 51223, Music Publishers. Detailed information about NAICS can be found on the Census Bureau Web site at: http://www.census.gov/epcd/www/naics.html

2 Coverage of auxiliaries has been expanded for the 2002 CFS. In comparison, for the 1997 CFS, the number of in-scope managing offices was reduced to a large extent based on the results of the 1992 Economic Census. For the 1997 CFS, a managing office was considered in-scope only if it had sales or end-of-year inventories in the 1992 Census. Research conducted prior to the 2002 CFS showed that not all managing offices with shipping activity in the 1997 CFS indicated sales or inventories in the 1997 Economic Census. Therefore, the 1997 Economic Census results were not used to determine scope for managing offices in the 2002 CFS. For the 2002 survey, the inclusion of an increased number of auxiliaries (intermediary distribution centers) which support the operations of retail stores (most of which are, themselves out-of-scope) has more of an impact on the estimates of value and tonnage and less on ton-miles.

Commodity Classification System

1993

1997

2002

Standard Transportation Commodity Classification (STCC), developed by the Association of American Railroads (AAR)

Standard Classification of Transported Goods (SCTG)

Standard Classification of Transported Goods (SCTG)

Sample Size

1993

1997

2002

Approximately 200,000 establishments selected from a universe of about 790,000 in-scope establishments.

Approximately 100,000 establishments selected from a universe of about 770,000 in-scope establishments.

Approximately 50,000 establishments selected from a universe of about 760,000 in-scope establishments.

Survey Methodology

1993

1997

2002

Respondents reported for a sample of their individual outbound shipments for a 2-week period during each of the four calendar quarters of the reference year.

Respondents reported for a sample of their individual outbound shipments for a 1-week period during each of the four calendar quarters of the reference year.

Respondents reported for a sample of their individual outbound shipments for a 1-week period during each of the four calendar quarters of the reference year.

Respondents reported key characteristics for each sampled shipment

Respondents reported key characteristics for each sampled shipment

Respondents reported key characteristics for each sampled shipment

Reported Mode of Transportation

1993

1997

2002

For-hire truck

For-hire truck

For-hire truck

Private truck

Private truck

Private truck

Rail

Rail

Rail

Air

Air

Air

Inland Water

Shallow draft vessel

Shallow draft vessel

Deep Sea Water

Deep draft vessel

Deep draft vessel

Pipeline

Pipeline

Pipeline

Parcel, U.S. Postal Service, or courier

Parcel, U.S. Postal Service, or courier

Parcel, U.S. Postal Service, or courier

Other

Other

Other

Unknown

Unknown

Unknown

Data Items Requested

1993

1997

2002

For each shipment:

For each shipment:

For each shipment:

Total value

Total value

Total value

Total weight

Total weight

Total weight

Commodity that contributes the most to the shipment's weight (STCC)

Commodity that contributes the most to the shipment's weight (SCTG)

Commodity that contributes the most to the shipment's weight (SCTG)

All known modes of transportation

All known modes of
transportation

All known modes of
transportation

Single origin (assumed to be the mailing address unless the respondent provided a different physical location address)

Single origin (assumed to be the mailing address unless the respondent provided a different physical location address)

Single origin (assumed to be the mailing address unless the
respondent provided a different physical location address)

Destination

Destination

Destination

Containerized (Y/N)

Containerized (Y/N)

Hazardous material (Y/N)

Hazardous material (UN/NA) code

Hazardous material (UN/NA) code

Export (Y/N)

Export (Y/N)

Export (Y/N)

If export: mode of export, foreign city and country of destination; U.S. port, airport, or border crossing of exit.

If export: mode of export, foreign city and country of destination; U.S. port, airport, or border
crossing of exit.

If export: mode of export, foreign city and country of destination; U.S. port, airport, or border
crossing of exit.